On 25 November, 16.00-19.00, at Paradiso, we dive into how artists and communities bring archives to life—and make them accessible to the people whose histories they hold.
Through storytelling, sound, art and shared traditions, the programme looks beyond conventional archives to ask how knowledge is preserved, who owns it and how it can connect communities beyond former colonial centres.
The programme is co-curated and facilitated by our International Advisory Board Member Russel Hlongwane, a South African artist, cultural producer and researcher whose work connects Black life, heritage and contemporary culture.
Programme
16.00–17.00 | Artistic Infrastructures of Archiving
What do archives need to thrive, and whom should they serve? Three Netherlands-based organisations share their approaches to cultural memory: Archival Consciousness, which uses art, design and technology to make archives more accessible; Mezrab, a cultural centre rooted in storytelling and community; and Vlisco, whose wax-print textiles are woven into fashion, storytelling and cultural expression across West and Central Africa.
17.00-17.40 | Break
17.40-19.00 | Memory, Community and Connection
The second part explores how artists preserve and share local histories, build connections across the Global South and use memory and tradition to respond to today’s challenges. Featuring presentations by:
Rabiul Khan, 2024 Seed Awardee, a visual artist and founder of GABAA in India, whose work brings together community engagement, archiving and alternative ways of learning.
Nova Ruth, 2023 CAREC Fellow, an Indonesian musician, artist and activist, and co-founder of Arka Kinari, a floating cultural platform connecting music, cultural heritage and climate resilience.
Dicky Takndare, 2022 Seed Awardee, an artist from West Papua whose work explores Papuan identity, cultural heritage and community.